Monday January 28, 2019

Active members have recently been advised that the price increase
for 2019 has been cancelled and that membership will remain at the
2018 price for the rest of this year.

Prices at Active were increased, but the increase has been revoked
in recognition of the ongoing maintenance issues at Fort Regent.
Although some facilities are currently unavailable, the Active gym
at Fort Regent remains open and is still Jersey's largest and
best-stocked gym.

Regular Fort Regent gym users have been invited to take part in a
focus group where they can give their ideas about how else Active
can thank and reward members for their loyalty while facilities are
repaired.

Any members who have already paid the increased price in January
will receive a credit, and will continue to pay at the lower rate
over the year. The Active Team will contact anyone who has paid for
an annual membership at the increased rate to advise how the extra
amount will be returned.

Swimming facilities (at Les Quennevais) have not been affected by
the Fort Regent maintenance issues. Swim passes are therefore not
included in the price freeze.

Why is it going to take so long to reinstate the Showers,
toilets and Sauna and Steam?
The Fort is a complex building that has developed organically over
the past 40 years. In order to remove and replace the aging
pipework servicing these areas we first need to establish the
extent and layout of the services which are currently unknown. Some
of it is hidden and parts travel through walls coated with asbestos
making the task that much more challenging.

What about the old free weights areas?
The project in this area is being dealt with separately, and we
are hopeful some areas will be reinstated sooner than the shower
areas but we cannot yet commit to a timeframe.

I've heard the lower free weights areas will never be
reinstated, is that true?
We have been advised that the lower free weights areas may not
meet current standards for management of fire safety due to the
distances travelled to reach a fire exit. If we are unable to
reopen this area for public use, we will revisit our floor layouts
to accommodate the equipment in that area in another place as soon
as we can access it safely.

How can I join one of the focus groups?
We will be working with an independent research company who will
recruit members to support the focus groups over the coming weeks.
We will advise members, probably via social Media, when we know
more. Please follow us on www.facebook.com/fortregentjersey/ for
the latest news, or check our website at www.active.je

Will this mean I'll get a further refund of
subscriptions I've already paid?
The focus groups aim to determine what we can do to work with our
customers to maintain their loyalty while we continue to experience
maintenance issues at Fort Regent and after that time. This does
not mean we will be refunding memberships already paid, except for
those fees charged over and above 2018 prices to some of our
members in January.

I've already been charged 2019 prices in January, will I
receive a credit?
Yes. Members don't have to do anything.

If you pay by Direct Debit, your payments will be adjusted over the
next two months, February's payment will be discounted accordingly
and from 1st March your monthly payment will return to 2018
levels.

If you have already paid an annual amount, the Active Team will
contact you over the coming weeks to discuss your options.

Why did you put the prices up in the first
place?
Decisions regarding 2019 prices were made well in advance of us
understanding the full extent of the timescales associated with
reinstating the areas affected.

Why is the Swim Pass still going up?
The Swim pass is only available at Les Quennevais and the Swim
Pass offer is not impacted by the issues at Fort Regent.

How many Active members are there in Jersey? How has this
number changed over recent years?
There are currently 6,000 memberships in total. While there has
been an increase since 2016, the number fluctuates on a daily basis
and is affected by many different factors.

Have you lost any Active members as a result of the
facilities being reduced? Or do you think that you may have missed
out on any potential new Active members?
Active membership changes constantly, and for many reasons: people
may leave Jersey, prefer offers from competing clubs (two new clubs
opened last year), or feel that our offering no longer suits their
lifestyle
(or have a change in lifestyle).

It is possible that the issues that we have had with our facilities
have led some people to end their Active membership, and - as set
out above - there are many other factors. There are also two other
sports centres under the Active brand which are well stocked and
which continue to be popular.

In terms of missing out, we cannot comment on whether anyone has
decided to not join Active, we continue to see people join or renew
their Active membership on a daily basis.

Are you be expecting the usual influx of gym goers in
January?
Yes. For many people, January is the month when they decide to
join a gym or renew their membership.
Our average takings are on a par with previous years, and
customers continue to join Active. They are made aware of the
temporary arrangements at Fort Regent when signing up.